Moody leads Tigers romp
By Graeme Mair
Last Updated: 01/01/70 1:00am
Lewis Moody scored a hat-trick as Leicester beat Bourgoin 57-3 at Welford Road.
Leicester Tigers thrashed Bourgoin 57-3 at Welford Road to secure a bonus-point win that keeps them on course to progress from Pool Four of the Heineken Cup.
England flanker Lewis Moody scored the first of a hat-trick after just 29 seconds as the Tigers ran in eight tries in total during a one-sided affair.
Shane Jennings [pictured] contributed a brace, while Harry Ellis, Daryl Gibson and Tom Varndell each touched down once and Andy Goode's place kicking contributed 17 points.
Bourgoin, who have not won away in the Heineken Cup for more than four years, omitted fly-half Benjamin Boyet and skipper Julien Bonnaire from their starting XV, perhaps a reflection of the esteem in which they hold the competition.
Moody's early score set the tone as the French visitors, bottom of Pool Four without a point, gave a performance noticeably lacking in defensive commitment.
The Tigers had opened a 29-0 lead by the interval with scrum-half Ellis, flanker Jennings and centre Gibson all following Moody across the whitewash.
The pacy Varndell entered the fray at half-time, probably the last thing the beleaguered visitors wanted to see, and went 70 metres for a try with his first touch.
Moody then scored twice in two minutes mid-way through the half to complete his treble before being replaced by Brett Deacon as coach Pat Howard began to plan for his side's hectic Christmas schedule which includes three Guinness Premiership fixtures in 11 days.
Jennings added the eighth try late on with Goode's conversion extending the margin of victory to 54 points.
Leicester's final two Pool fixtures are at home to Cardiff Blues on January 13 followed by a mouth-watering trip to take on defending champions Munster at Thomond Park on January 19. Two victories will guarantee they progress.
